Arrow Removed From Goose; Recovery Expected

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Fayetteville Animal Services officials removed an arrow from a Canada goose at Fairview Memorial Cemetery on Tuesday (June 4) and said they expect the goose to recover fully, according to the agency.

John Hart, senior animal control officer, said luckily the arrow was a smaller field tip instead of a broad tip.

”It would’ve done a lot more damage as it entered the animal so she may have not made it, but being a field tip it went right through the breast plate, so we pulled it out and expect a full recovery,” Hart said.

The goose, shot apparently on Monday, was alive and seen early Tuesday at Farview Memorial Cemetery near East Mission Boulevard with an arrow through its breast. However, the arrow was removed later Tuesday.

John Harvey, cemetery superintendent, said a visitor alerted workers on Monday.

”It was pretty amazing," Harvey said. "It had been there since yesterday and acting like other than just being a nuisance to it, it seemed like it was functioning just fine.”

Harvey said the suspect shot the arrow after 9:20 a.m. Monday because an eyewitness told him the bird was fine before that time.

"She’s got two babies there following her around, and I hope she’s OK,” Harvey said.

Harvey said this isn't the first time geese have been targeted at that site.

"We’ve had some that have been killed, and we’ve contacted the Fayetteville Police, and they’re supposed to do extra patrol for us out here," Harvey said.

Officials from the state Game and Fish Commission and city Animal Services division helped catch the goose to remove the arrow.

Animal Services will keep an eye on the goose.

"We’ll monitor the bird make sure that she’s healing properly, and then we’ll just try and catch the person responsible for it,” Hart said.

Hunting is prohibited in Fayetteville city limits, said Craig Stout, Fayetteville Police Department spokesman. The person who shot the goose could be subject to a cruelty to animals violation, he said.

Hart said Canada geese are federally protected so the suspect, if caught, could face federal charges.